Backup Research & Planning AS

Component 1: AO4
The following elements will be taken into consideration when assessing your Foundation Portfolio:
• For the film opening task: evidence of research into other film openings, film locations, audience and institutional factors, such as conventions of titling.
• For the magazine task: evidence of research into other magazines, articles, audience and institutional factors, such as brand identity.Level 5 16–20 The ability to undertake and apply appropriate research is excellent, as evidenced in detail on the blog with relevant examples of film or magazine production elements. The finished product also demonstrates the effectiveness of this research. Research informs the creative critical reflection to a high degree.Level 4 12–15 The ability to undertake and apply appropriate research is competent, as evidenced on the blog with relevant examples of film or magazine production elements. The finished product also demonstrates evidence of this research. Research informs the creative critical reflection to a good degree.Level 3 8–11 The ability to undertake and apply appropriate research is apparent at a satisfactory level, as evidenced on the blog with some examples of film or magazine production elements. The finished product also demonstrates some evidence of this research. Research will inform the creative critical reflection to some degree.Level 2 4–7 The ability to undertake and apply appropriate research is apparent at a limited level, as evidenced on the blog, with limited examples of film or magazine production elements. The finished product also demonstrates limited evidence of this research. Research informs the creative critical reflection to a limited degree.Level 1 1-3 The ability to undertake and apply appropriate research is apparent at a minimal level, as evidenced on the blog with examples of film or magazine production elements barely apparent. The finished product also demonstrates minimal evidence of this research. Research informs the creative critical reflection to a minimal degree.Level 0 0 There is no evidence of ability to undertake and apply appropriate research.

FILM OPENING TASK (scroll down for Magazine task)

Research Posts:

* in order to be able to complete the research posts, please decide first upon the genre/hybrid genre/sub-genre you want to approach in your film opening.

1)9 FrameFilm analysis – Different film openings (3 film openings). Excellent website with openings which already has the 9 frames extracted for each: http://www.artofthetitle.com/

What are the conventions found in these film openings?

What do the elements in the opening represent? (Denotation and Connotation)

How is the credits part integrated with moving images? (Denotation and Connotation)

Prepare a presentation with information from all the above posts. You will have to present your movie to a “producer” and make him/her wish to fund your movie – during MY MONEY WEEK. For this you will also have to add:

Distribution

Festivals

Competitions

Innovative marketing ideas

The companies research:

-) Film Companies research – minimum of 2 companies, 1 large, 1 small

Who would fund/produce your movie?

Who owns the company?

What is their company history?

What type of movies do they usually produce?

A detailed look at 2 movies from each company: genre, target audience, budget, actors, box office, marketing strategies. At least one of them should be in the genre of the film you want to create.

10) Calendar/Timeline

You will receive a CALL SHEET template from your teacher to complete before the shooting sessions you plan. On it you will schedule the shootings on days, locations, etc.

OPTIONAL EXTRA – You can also create a calendar to show when tasks will start and finish (including film-shoots, deadlines editing sessions, director’s cut, final cut, etc…)

Creating screenshots of calendars to show your shooting and editing schedule

Planning Posts:

Create the list of the table of contents – what narrative is built in this issue of your magazine? what’s the theme, the thread that goes through all articles, or there isn’t connection between them with a reason you need to know.

You need to include at least 4 photos created by you in the magazine in different locations, and different models if possible. All photos, images, designs you include need to be original, created exclusively by you.

For each photoshoot you will need to create a post on your blog with the following information:

a) Models

Screen shot of an email/text message/messenger/whatsapp – how you contacted your model

Photographs of your chosen model

Why have you chosen this model?

Why is she/he suitable for your genre and audience?

b) Props/Costume

A list with all props and costumes to use in your photoshoot

Why are the props/costume appropriate for your genre/audience?

c) Photo-shoot Planning

6-8 storyboard style planning drawings for your photo shoot/s

Why are these appropriate for your genre/audience?

d) Location recce – scouting locations for your photo shoots

Photographs of the location

Why are these appropriate/not appropriate for your genre and audience?

Your final location decisions

5) Contact Sheet of Photo-shoot images + Edits

Choose the photos you want to edit and finally get to the ones to be included in the magazine. Present all editing steps in detail, take screenshots while working and place them as timeline or create a slideshow and describe the tools you used. You can use Adobe Spark for presenting your editing steps, either Page or Video: https://spark.adobe.com/

Prepare a presentation with information from all the above posts. You will have to present your movie to a “producer” and make him/her wish to fund your movie – during MY MONEY WEEK. For this you will also have to add:

Distribution

Festivals

Competitions

Innovative marketing ideas

The companies research:

-) Magazine Producers/Institutions research – Minimum of 2 companies, 1 large and 1 small

Who owns the company?

What is their company history?

What publications do they manage?

A detailed look at 2 of these publications and their target audience. At least 1 of these publications should be a magazine in the style chosen.

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About this blog

This is the blog for the A Level Media Studies course offered by Cambridge International Examinations at Transylvania College. More info on the course here: Media Studies CIE

This blog is managed by the teacher who posts relevant research topics and resources for students. You are free to take anything you want and use the ideas shared here.

Please visit also the students’ blogs, to see what kind of work they have to do for Media Studies at A Level.

Transylvania College is the ony Cambridge accredited school in Romania offering a complete educational track, from nursery through high school. Our school has been chosen by families from around the world, we have students from 26 countries.